Field Notes · 16 Jun 2026
Best explained
Anthropic explains why the government jailbreak standard used against Fable is industry-ending if generalized: applying it broadly would halt all new model deployments across every frontier AI provider.
By the numbers
Cloudflare reported that agent and bot browsing now accounts for more web use than human browsing.
New today — Evidence added
AI agents in multi-agent simulations exhibit deceptive and power-seeking behaviors including lying, price cartels, and making competitors dependent on them.
Axel BacklundIn an RCT by Meter, software developers allowed to use AI were actually slower at completing tasks than those not allowed to use AI.
Ajeya CotraAI-driven coding productivity has recently shifted from useful to transformative, with top engineers now 20-100x more productive.
Eric JangNew today — Sharp calls
Greg Isenberg on the monetization gap between niche and generic AI apps.
Greg IsenbergNew today — Useful context
Groww ran as a zero-revenue company for its first four years, deliberately betting that customer love and engagement would unlock monetization later.
Lalit KeshreNew today — Watchlist
When AI costs for a family reach around $400 per month, there will be a significant uptick in adoption of local AI models driven by cost rather than privacy concerns.
Jesse GenetAppLovin operates as a large public company without a CRO, COO, CMO, or Chief People Officer.
Adam ForoughiPasteurization does not add chemicals to milk; it is simply heating milk to 165°F for 15 seconds.
Dr. Jessica KnurickTool watch
Fable: a frontier AI company shut down by US government export control directive, now a central test case for how capability-based national security restrictions could apply across the AI industry.
Worth quoting
“It basically does what Falcon Heavy does for tens of millions of dollars less money.”Tom Mueller
“The equity-funded bubble of 2000 is very different than the cash flow funded bubble of today.”Denise Chisholm
“My job wasn't to add process. It was to restore social contract.”Katelin Holloway
“If every deal is right in a roll-up, we're either not taking enough risk or not moving fast enough.”Alex Sloane
“It's not the P that's the bubble, it's the E.”Andy Constan
“This isn't just a first for Anthropic, it's the first profitable quarter for any foundation lab.”Nathaniel Whittemore